Clamp



Patented Jant 4, 1949 UNITED sTA'rEsPATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamp of extremely i f simple construction and which is adapted for use for detachably clamping mesh wire, wire strands or any other material to be stretched and which is especially constructed and arranged to enable the clamp to be quickly and easily attached to or detached from an end of a strip, strand or strands to be stretched.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a clamp which is very durable and which is composed of few parts capable of being readily assembled or disassembled for attaching or detaching the clamp and which may be readily moved to an operative or clamping position for effectively holding an element or elements disposed between the jaws thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a clamp having means for exerting a substantially uniform pressure throughout the entire length thereof upon an element or elements disposed between the jaws of the clamp.`

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clamp having means for effectively latching it in a clamping position` to prevent accidental disengagement thereof.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the clamp in an operative position and in engagement with a portion of a strip of mesh wire fabric;

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to Figure l and showing the clamp in an operative position and attached to a draw bar of a stretching mechanism, not shown; and

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 3 3 and 4--4, respectively, of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved clamp in its entirety is designated generally 5 and includes two elongated bars 6, 'l which combine to form the two clamping jaws of the clamp 5.

A rod or strand of heavy gauge wire 8 extends along the outer edge of the bar 6, and is fastened thereto, in any suitable manner, as by means of staples B, and is preferably located in a longitudinally disposed groove or channel Ill of said bar 6, as best seen in Figure 3. The ends of the rod or strand 8 extend beyond the ends of the bar 6 and terminate in hooks II which open outwardly of said bar 6 and which are disposed beyond the ends thereof, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The other clamping bar or jaw l is provided, intermediate of its ends, with a pair of ears I2, which are preferably secured in recesses I3 of the sides thereof by one or more fastenings I4; said ears I2 extending to beyond the outer side of the bar 'l and being provided with a pin I5 l which extends between the outer portions thereof `and which forms a pivot for the headed end of a lever I6. The head Il of the lever I6 is provided with an arcuateedge I3 which is `eccentrically disposed relatively to the pivot I5, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The pivot pin I5 carries bushings or spacing sleeves I9 which are disposed thereon between the ears I2 and the head Il for retaining said head in spaced relationship to the ears, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The bar or jaw 1 has screw eyes 20 projecting from its outer side, the openings of which are disposed transversely of saidbar l, for loosely receiving and guiding chains 2I and 22 which extend therethrough. The remote ends of the chains 2l and 22 detachably engage over the hooks II and said chains are provided with elongated links 23 and 24, at their opposite, adjacent ends whieh loosely engage openings 25 and 26, respectively, in the head Il and which are located on opposite sides of and spaced from the pivot I5, and by which the chains are pivotally connected to the `head I1.

The lever I6 has a hook 2l pivotally connected at its shank end thereto and intermediate of the ends thereof and which is disposed to Swingin a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the lever I6 and which normally extends from the inner edge of said lever.

The drawing illustrates the clamp 5 in an operative positive and with an end portion of a strip of mesh wire fabric or the like 28, shown clamped between the bars or jaws E and 'l thereof. With the clamp 5 thus disposed, the remote ends of the chains 2I and 22 engagethe hooks I I and the lever IB is swung downwardly with respect to the clamp jaws and disposed substantially parallel thereto, so that the adjacent ends of the chains 2I and 22 are drawn toward one another and so that the portion of the edge I8 of the lever head Il, which is most remote to the pivot I5, is in engagement with the outer side of the jaw or bar 1, so that said portion will combine with the chains for retaining the jaws or bars in adjacent, clamping relationship. It will be readily apparent that the chains 2| and 22 will engage around the outer ends of the bar 'I to combine with the hooks ll and the cam edge I8 for holding the jaws or bars in clamping relationship, adjacent their ends and intermediate thereof, and the outer edges and ends of the bar 1 are preferably covered with reinforcing strips of metal or the like, as seen at 29, to prevent the chains 2| and 22 from cutting into the ends of fthe bar or jaw l. When the lever IB is thus disposed,as v.seen in Figure 1, the hook 2l is engaged with the lowermost eye 20, for detachably latching the lever i6 in an operative` position and for preventing accidental release thereof.

To release the clamp 5 from the lrwirefabric strip 28, the free end of the lever I6 is swung inwardly or toward the jaws 6 and y"l ,sufficiently to disengage the hook 21, after which vsaiddever is Vswung outwardly or rin a counterclockwise direction .for releasing the pull ontne chainsz I and "22 and for Amoving the eccentric edge .I away from the jaw or bar '1. The remote ends Jofthe chains 2l and 2 2 can then be disengaged from jthehooks ll 'for disengaging the jaws or bars 6 'and '1, 'thereby releasing the strip .28. yft will 'fbe readily apparent that Ithe clamp `5 may be uti'lizedfonclamping 'one 4or aplurality of strands -of wire, not shown, orany other element to be stretehed orpulle'd.

The clamp' isadapted to be attached to any conventional Vstretching mechanism, not shown, andmaybe utilizedin conjunction withadraw t"103130, of such mechanism and which is provided with 'flexible members 3l, such as chains which are anchored thereto, at corresponding `ends'fthereof vand which are provided Withhooks 32 fattheir free ends. The chains 3l are adapted to engage Iaround the `clamping jaws or bars 6 'and "1, adjacent'the ends thereof, and with .the hooks {32,engaged with links ,of the chains for de.. tahably connecting .the clamp 5 t0 .the drawbar 311 and;afterthe clamp 5 lhas been applied tothe llmrlt tObe Stretchedor pulled. Likewise, it

.one of said bars being provided with a hook l.disposed beyond each end thereof, a lever having one end pivotally supported on the other bar and :outwardly 'of the outer side thereof and a pair of flexible members having remote ends detachably connected to said hooks and engaging slidablypver the outer end corners of the last mentioned bar or jaw andfhaving opposite adjacent .endspvotally .connectedto the lever on opposite .sides of and spaced vfrom the leverpivot whereby said l.flexible members will be tightened when .the lever is swung .in one direction relatively to the ,jaws for drawing the jaws 4together Aand into vclamping relationship. y

2, .Aclamp `as inA claim 1, said lever having an eccentrically disposed Acam edge at `its inner end .disposed .in .engagement with the outer side .of .the .last,mention.ed bar or jaw when the jaws aredisposedin clamping position.

3. A clamp `as in claim..1,.andmeans.for de- Ttarzhably..latohing.the lever in an operative posi- Ation.relatively to the jaws.

1.4..Arclampasinclaim 1, said last mentioned bar or aw-having eyesprojecting .from the outer Aside Vthereof `and Vforming `guides Vfor said flexible. members, ,and ahook carried Aby said lever for Ydetachably .engaging one of said eyes for `releasably `retaining the lever in an operative position.

ZELMER E. SNOW.

.No references cited. 

